AMHERSTBURG, Ont. — A display of lights and fireworks, carriage rides and gingerbread houses will be featured in Amherstburg at the River Lights Winter Festival.
Kick off the holiday season with an outdoor screening of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the King’s Navy Yard Park and stay for the tree lighting and fireworks display.
Festival administrator Karen Gyorgy said visitors can warm up with some hot chocolate and then check out the holiday sculptures created by 23 Villanova secondary school art students at the warming house in the Toddy Jones Park.
“It’s just magical,” Gyorgy said.
The sixth annual event kicks off Friday at 5:30 p.m.
“There’s an arts and culture theme this year,” Gyorgy said.
There are also 125 LED light displays throughout the parks that will be lit up every night through Jan. 1.
The gingerbread warming house will be open every Friday and Saturday, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., through Dec. 22.
If you’re feeling creative, enter your gingerbread house creation in this year’s contest. All entries must be brought to the warming house Wednesday between 5 and 7 p.m.
“Last year we had 55 gingerbread houses,” Gyorgy said. “We’re hoping for more this year.”
The entries will be on display Friday.
Gyorgy said about 5,000 people attended last year’s opening night.
On Sunday, a wine tasting and heritage trolley tour takes place at the Gordon House, 268 Dalhousie St.
Gyorgy said local historian Robert Honor will lead the guided tours of historic Amherstburg at 2 and 3 p.m. The wine tasting takes place an hour before the tours.
Tickets are $15 or two for $25, available by calling 519-736-4642.
For more information on the festival, visit www.riverlights.ca.
The warming house is shown in Amherstburg, Ont. on Monday, November 12, 2012. The festive warming house will open this weekend is part of the River Lights Winter Festival. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)
The warming house is shown in Amherstburg, Ont. on Monday, November 12, 2012. The festive warming house will open this weekend is part of the River Lights Winter Festival. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)
Karen Gyorgy is shown in the warming house in Amherstburg, Ont. on Monday, November 12, 2012. The festive warming house will open this weekend is part of the River Lights Winter Festival. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)
Karen Gyorgy is shown in the warming house in Amherstburg, Ont. on Monday, November 12, 2012. The festive warming house will open this weekend is part of the River Lights Winter Festival. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)
Karen Gyorgy is shown in the warming house in Amherstburg, Ont. on Monday, November 12, 2012. The festive warming house will open this weekend is part of the River Lights Winter Festival. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)
